Rail-bond.



Patented Oct. 2, |900. J. T. STACK.

RAIL BUND.

(Application filed July 13, 1899.)

(No Model.)

. Fig. Z -7 afHomq/J.

' UNITED STATT-:sA

PATENT OFFICE..1

JOHN T. STACK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR-TO JOHN P. BARRETT, OF SAME PLACE.

RAIL-BOND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 658,967, dated October 2, 1900.

Application iiletl'July 13, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. STACK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rail-Bonds, (Case No.' 1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to rail-bonds, and has for its object the provision of an improved rail-bond adapted to afford thorough electrical union between the same and rails to be electrically united thereby.

Heretofore it has been difficult to obtain a joint between the bond and rails which would combine requisite high conductivity and durability with ch eapness and simplicity of construction. It is of course essential that a good electrical joint be made between rails that are to be bonded, and to avoid the expensive methods of welding rails, which could not be advantageously employed in open or suburban work, it is necessary to furnish suitable means of joining a metal conductingstrip securely to the rails to be joined. Various means and methods have been employed to attain this result with varying degrees of success; but they have failed always to produce perfect and permanent electrical unity of the rails.

4It is the object of my present invention to supply an improved rail-bond for securing the desired result.

I will explain my invention more particularly by reference to the accompanying drawings and point out the same in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows an application of my improved rail-bond to alined rails. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of my invention. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View on linee 4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively elevational and top views of a form of washer employed in my invention. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively elevational and top views of one form of bond that I employ.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the different figures.

In practicing my invention I employ a strip of conducting metal d, preferably of copper,

VSerial No. 723,701. -(No model.)

' to the extremity of which I apply a liberal coating of some impervious metallic compound b, such as commercial solder, Figs. 7 `and 8. I carefully clean the parts of the rail- `webs with which the bond is to come in contact, preferably by an application of acidulated water, after which I preferably place a liberal coating c, Fig. 4, upon the cleaned .portion of the rail, preferably of the same material used upon the bond. The bond is then placed upon the rails with its coated portions superposed upon the coated portions of the rails. Steel washers d are then placed upon the outer coated faces of the bond. One face of each washer is also coated with a layer e, Fig. of the metallic compound or solder. The relative thickness of these coatings is exaggerated in the drawings in order to illustrate my invention more clearly. rlhe metallic bond is preferably corrugated or bent to allow a relative movement between bonded rails due to expansion or contraction. The fish-plates fbulge outwardly at h to leave cavities, which are preferably oblong on the sides of the plates opposed to the rail, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The ends of the cavities in the fish-plates snugly t the bonds and washers. I preferably fasten the fish-plates by means of bolts I preferably make the washers a trifle thicker than would be required to till the space between the bond and the fish-plate, so that when the {ish-plate is screwed onto the rail the metallic bond,being softer than the surrounding metal, is forced into shape by compression, thus forming an extremely-tight joint. I then apply sufcient heat to the joint to allow the superposed metallic coatings upon the bond, the rails, and the washers to unite, whereby these parts are formed,practically,into oueintegral structure of conducting metal. By using a washer preferably of the same material or having the same coefficient of expansion as the rail itself I am enabled to overcome any tendency the bond may have to work loose.

By usinga strip of iron on both sides of the copper the union between the bond and the rail will not deteriorate. I preferably fill any space that remains inthe cavity aiforded by the fish-plates with coal-tar l in order to exclude moisture.

Another embodiment of my invention is IOO shown in Fig. 3. In this construction I employ but one bond, though the number may be varied. Two boltsz' z' are passed through the bond and the washers d d.

While I have herein shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown, as various applications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

l. Means for bonding rails comprising a bond having its ends adapted for connection with the end portions of adjoining rails; a fish-plate having a recess which incloses the bond; a couple of washers, each tilted between one of the ends of the bond and the fishplate, and made slightly thicker than the space normally existing between the bond ends and the ish-plate, whereby when the fish-plate is secured to the rails, the washers serve to clamp the bond ends against the same, and thereby form a tight joint therewith, while at the same time they allow ample play of the bond to accommodate itself to the expansion and contraction of the rails; and

bolts or the like for securing the fish-plate to the rails.

2. Means for bonding rails comprising a bond having its ends adapted for connection with the end portions of adjoining rails; a fish-plate having a recess which incloses the bond; a couple of washers, each fitted between one of the ends of the bond and the shplate, and made slightly thicker than the space, normally existing between the bond ends and the fish-plate, whereby when the fish-plate is secured to the rails, the washers serve to clamp the bond ends against the same, and thereby form a tight joint therewith, while at the same time they allow ample play of the bond to accommodate itself to the expansion and contraction of the rails; tar or like substance confined within the space in the fish-plate and embedding the bond; and bolts arranged for securing the fish-plate to the rails, and extended through said washers.

In witness whereof I hereunto su bscribe my name this 10th day of July, A. D. 1899.

JOHN T. STACK. 

